Bring the dying back to life

A will-known ancient Chinese doctor named Bian Que lived during the Warring States Period (475 — 221 BC). He travelled from place to place to practice medicine, curing countless patients.

While he was passing through the State of Guo, he heard about the sudden death of the prince. He inquired about the case of the prince from an official. Judging from what he heard, Bian Que decided the prince was not dead, but was suffering from a certain illness. He said to the official, “I can bring the prince back to life.” The official thought he was boasting. “How ridicules! The prince is already dead. How can you revive him?” however Bian Que explained, the official remained skeptical. But he was also curious. So he told the King about V’s claim. The King, who is so desperate, lost no time in inviting Bian Que to the palace.

Bian Que used acupuncture therapy. The prince responded well, and after a while, he came to. Bian Que prescribed some medicine for a hot compress. Strangely enough, the prince immediately sat up. Bian Que then gave the prince 20 dosed of herbal medicine. And the prince fully recovered in 20 days.

From that story comes the idiom 起死回生 (qǐ sǐ huí shēng ). The phrase is used to praise the excellent skill of good doctors. People also use it to refer to the revival of dying things.

注释: 起死回生 (qǐ sǐ huí shēng) 在发音的时候实际为 (qí sǐ huí shēng)

汉语拼音的一个规律是当两个字在一起读的时候，如果两个字的读音都是三声的时候那么第一个字的读音要变成二声的读音，这叫“变调” ，后一个的字的声调不变，还是三声。

白(bái)蛇(shé)传(chuán)说(shuō)

2011年中国巨力影视投资1.8亿的魔幻爱情动作巨制。改编自中国四大民间传说之一的《白蛇传》。由亚洲著名制片人崔宝珠监制，经典版《倩女幽魂》导演程小东执导。功夫皇帝李连杰出演法海，“四小花旦”之一的黄圣依演绎白素贞，“万人迷”林峰饰演许仙，阿SA蔡卓妍饰演青蛇，文章、姜武、徐若瑄、杨千嬅、杜汶泽、罗家英、林雪、郭羡妮等众多明星共同出演。《白蛇传说》于2011年9月29日内地上映。电影《白蛇传说》作为唯一一部国语影片入围第68届威尼斯电影节。获得西班牙西切斯电影节，最佳贡献奖。提名第48届金马奖，最佳视觉效果。

导演: 程小东

编剧: 张炭 / 曾谨昌

主演: 李连杰 / 黄圣依 / 林峰 / 蔡卓妍 / 文章 / 徐若瑄 / 姜武 / 杨千嬅 / 杜汶泽 / 罗家英 / 郭羡妮

类型: 动作 / 爱情 / 奇幻 / 古装

制片国家/地区: 中国大陆

上映日期: 2011-09-28(中国大陆)

又名: 法海:白蛇传说(台) / 白蛇传说之法海(港) / Its love / The Sorcerer and the White Snake

剧情简介

南宋年间，世道离乱，更有各方妖孽为害世间，某深山老林，一青一白二蛇修炼千年，化得人身，终日在山中畅意游玩，好不自在。二蛇偶遇上山采药的郎中许仙（林峰 饰），白蛇（黄圣依 饰）倾慕许仙，并偶然救得他的性命，自此凡心触动，决定下山寻找心上之人。适逢佳节，二蛇变作人形，以白素贞、青青（蔡卓妍 饰）之名来到城中。正所谓因缘际会，白素贞终与许仙相逢，结为夫妇。时有金山寺高僧法海（李连杰 饰）携弟子能忍（文章 饰）四方游历，降妖除魔。追寻二蛇期间，能忍为蝙蝠妖所伤，魔性大起，坚心动摇。其后师徒二人更与白素贞、青青二蛇上演正法与情缘的纠葛……

画个饼来解除饥饿。比喻用空想来安慰自己，特别是用来欺骗别人。或者用来说明虚名是没有实际用处的。

三国时期，有一个人叫卢毓，在魏国做官，由于他为魏文帝曹丕出了许多好主意，因此，受到朝廷器重，升为侍中、中书郎。有一次，魏文帝对卢毓说：”国家能不能得到有才能的人，关键就在你了。?选拔人才，不要取那些有名声的，名气不过是在地上画一个饼，不能吃的。”

卢毓回答说：”靠名声是不可能衡量才能的人，但是，可以发现一般的人才。由于修养高，行为好，而有名的，是不应该厌恶他们。我以为主要的是对他们进行考核，看他们是否真有才学。现在废除了考试法，全靠名誉提升或降职，所以真伪难辩，虚实混淆。”

Lu Yu was a very learned and honest man of the State of Wei in the Three Kingdoms Period (220 — 280). He served as a senior official for three years and made many good suggestions to Emperor Wendi. He was later promoted to the position of Minister of Official Personnel Affairs.

When the emperor was selecting personnel for a very important post, some well-known people were recommended. But Emperor Wendi didn’t like them. In a special imperial edict, the emperor said, “whether we can find the right person for this post depends on Lu Yu. We shouldn’t choose those only with fame but without real ability and learning. Fame is just like a pancake drawn on the ground which you can’t eat.”

Lu Yu suggested that recommendation be combined with examination and the emperor adopted his proposal. Officials were then appointed according to their competence. This method won wide acclaim from the people.

From a phrase in the imperial edict came the idiom 画饼充饥 (huà bǐng chōng jī). At first, it means “value empty names”, or “enjoy a reputation unwarranted by any real learning”. Now, people use it in a new sense. By 画饼充饥 (huà bǐng chōng jī), we mean “feed on illusions” or “console oneself with false hopes”.

Yi Zhou was known as a rigid official in Chinese history who lived in the Han Dynasty and died in the year 117BC. He had been county and prefecture magistrates. He was strict with laws and stern to law-breakers. And he was not swayed by personal considerations. Nor did he shrink from bigwigs. Outlaws were very much afraid of him and social order improved significantly in the counties under his jurisdiction.

After he was promoted to the position of Magistrate of Nanyang between present-day Central China’s Henan and Hubei provinces, Yi Zong learned that one of his immediate subordinates named Ning Cheng was extremely ruthless. Ning Cheng was in charge of tariffs. He usurped power and cruelly victimized the people. Without hesitation, the new magistrate Yi Zhong investigated and verified the brutal official’s crimes and brought him to justice.

Later, Yi Zhong was transferred to Ding Xiang in what is now the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. He was now Magistrate of Ding Xiang, an area where offenders ran wild. Upon his arrival, Yi Zhong took drastic measures. He sentenced to death more than two hundred criminals from the prison who he felt had been underpunished and had taken off their fetters and handcuffs without permission. Also killed at the same time were more than two hundred people who had secretly visited those major criminals and helped them take off their shackles.

This incident shocked the Ding Xiang area. People high and low were talking about how Yi Zhong killed more than four hundred people in one day. Although it was not cold that day, many people shivered at the news. Those who had violated het law or had done evil began to restrain and behave themselves.

Such massive execution really struck people with horror. And from the phrase about people’s reaction comes our idiom 不寒而栗 (bù hán ér lì). We use it to describe the feeling of being terrified.

Key words of the day
Snake 蛇，Rabbit 兔子，dolphin, 海豚，the zoo 动物园Do you want to go to the zoo? 你想去动物园吗？Let’s go to the zoo. 咱们去动物园吧 。Shall we go to see the dolphins? 我们去看海豚好吗? Let’s go to see the lions first. 咱们还是先去看狮子吧。All in today’s Chinese Studio.

B: The zoo, the zoo, I want to go to the zoo. But what do I call it in Chinese Y?
Y: That’s easy, 动物园。
B: dong4 wu yuan2,
Y:  dong4 wu is animal or zoological,
B: dong4 wu,
Y: yuan2 means garden,
B: Yuan2,
Y: dong4 wu yuan2
B: dong4 wu yuan2 zoo. … And, do you want to go to the zoo?
Y: You mean  你想去动物园吗？
B: ni2 xiang3 qu4 dong4 wu yuan2 ma?
Y: xiang3 qu4 means want to go somewhere,
B: xiang3 qu4.
Y: dong4 wu4 yuan2, zoo.
B: dong4 wu4 yuan2
Y: 你想去动物园吗？
B: ni2 xiang3 qu4 dong4 wu4 yuan2 ma?  Do you want to go to the zoo?

Conversation 1
A: 你想去动物园吗？
B: 好啊，走吧。

B: So, we both want to go the zoo. Let’s go to the zoo.
Y: Great, but let’s say that in Chinese,  咱们去动物园吧。
B: Let me practice: zan2men qu4 dong4 wu4 yuan2 ba.
Y: zan2men  means we,
B: zan2men ,
Y: qu4 means set off for some place,
B:  qu4,
Y: dong4 wu4 yuan2  means zoo,
B: dong4 wu4 yuan2
Y: 咱们去动物园吧
B: zan2men qu4 dong4 wu4 yuan2 ba Let’s go to the zoo .….Great, can’t wait to go!

Conversation 2
A: 咱们去动物园吧。
B: 太好了，我正好很喜欢动物 。

B: Ok, let’s learn a few more names of animals. Snakes are fascinating.
Y: That’s a  蛇。
B: she2. And rabbit. Remind me, I should know because we were talking about the Easter bunny not so long ago.
Y: Okay,  that’s a  兔子。
B: tu4 zi.  How about dolphin?
Y: it’s hai3 tun2.
B:  hai3 tun2. Shall we go to see the dolphins?  How do I say it in Chinese?
Y: you can say:   我们去看海豚,好吗?
B: wo3men qu4 kan4 hai3 tun2, hao3 ma?
Y: wo3men means we,
B: wo3men,
Y:  qu4 kan4 means go to see,
B: qu4 kan4,
Y:  hai3 tun2 is dolphin,
B: hai3 tun2,
Y: hao3 ma? Is it okay?
B: hao3 ma?
Y: 我们去看海豚好吗?
B: wo3men qu4 kan4 hai3 tun2 hao3 ma? Shall we go to see the dolphins?

Conversation3
A:我们去看海豚好吗?
B: 等会儿再去吧， 水族馆还没开门呢。

B: 我们去看海豚好吗?
Y:  It’s too early for the dolphin show. Let’s go to see the lions first.
B: How do you say that in Chinese?
Y:  you can say 咱们还是先去看狮子吧。Zan2men means we,
B: zan2men,  and wo3 men also means we,
Y: That’s right. hai2 shi4 means had better do sth,
B: hai2 shi4,
Y: xian2 qu4 means go somewhere first,
B: xian2 qu4,
Y: kan4 means see,
B: kan4,
Y: shi1zi is lion,
B: shi1zi,
Y: ba  is used to indicate suggestion,
B: ba.
Y: 咱们还是先去看狮子吧。
B: zan2men hai2shi4 xian1 qu4 kan4 shi1zi ba. Let’s go to see the lions first.

Conversation 4
A: 我想去看海豚。
B: 咱们还是先去看狮子吧。

Key words reminder
Snake 蛇，Rabbit 兔子，dolphin, 海豚，the zoo 动物园Do you want to go to the zoo? 你想去动物园吗？Let’s go to the zoo. 咱们去动物园吧 。Shall we go to see the dolphins? 我们去看海豚好吗? Let’s go to see the lions first. 咱们还是先去看狮子吧。All in today’s Chinese Studio.

B: Hey, it’s time to set off for the zoo. Y, what’s our question of the day?
Y: Remind us how to say, “Let’s go to the zoo” in Chinese.
B: Send your email answer to Chinese@cri.com.cn. Hurry along and you could win yourself a prize. Mingtian jian.
Y: Until tomorrow.

Act as a chang ghost for the tiger—Help a villain do evil

伥Chāng is the ghost of someone devoured by the tiger in ancient Chinese legend. Legend says, the 伥chāng  ghost helps the tiger eat other people. The idiom 为虎作伥(Wèi hǔ zuò chāng) has developed from a very old Chinese fable.

Long, long ago, once a tyrannical tiger was out hunting for food in the forest. To his delight, he caught sight of a man. The beast stole near, sprang on the man, killed him and made a nice meal of him. Ferocious and greedy, the tiger didn’t let the soul of his victim go. The soul now had become a ghost which is called the 伥chāng . The beast said he would let the 伥chāng  go only after the ghost find him another man to eat. Then the soul of the second man would take his place.

The chāng ghost was most willing to help the tiger. He guided the tiger to another man, and even helped undress the new victim so that the tiger could eat him more easily.

The popularity of this story shows people’s hatred for those who regard the enemy as kith and kin and serve as a jackal for scoundrels and villains.

为虎作伥(Wèi hǔ zuò chāng) is close to the English saying “To hold a candle to the devil”.

Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme?

What would you like to eat?

2.   我要一个汉堡，还有一杯红茶。

Wǒ yào yí gè hànbǎo, hái yǒu yì bēi hóngchá.

I’d like a hamburger and a cup of black tea.

3.   在这儿吃还是带走？

Zài zhèr chī háishì dàizǒu?

Would you like to eat here or take away?

4.   请问，洗手间在哪儿？

Qǐngwèn, xǐshǒujiān zài nǎr?

Excuse me, where is the rest room?

5.   请你给我几张餐巾纸。

Qǐng nǐ gěi wǒ jǐ zhāng cānjīnzhǐ

Please give me some napkins.

Act as a chang ghost for the tiger—Help a villain do evil

伥Chāng is the ghost of someone devoured by the tiger in ancient Chinese legend. Legend says, the 伥chāng  ghost helps the tiger eat other people. The idiom 为虎作伥(Wèi hǔ zuò chāng) has developed from a very old Chinese fable.

Long, long ago, once a tyrannical tiger was out hunting for food in the forest. To his delight, he caught sight of a man. The beast stole near, sprang on the man, killed him and made a nice meal of him. Ferocious and greedy, the tiger didn’t let the soul of his victim go. The soul now had become a ghost which is called the 伥chāng . The beast said he would let the 伥chāng  go only after the ghost find him another man to eat. Then the soul of the second man would take his place.

The chāng ghost was most willing to help the tiger. He guided the tiger to another man, and even helped undress the new victim so that the tiger could eat him more easily.

The popularity of this story shows people’s hatred for those who regard the enemy as kith and kin and serve as a jackal for scoundrels and villains.

为虎作伥(Wèi hǔ zuò chāng) is close to the English saying “To hold a candle to the devil”.

The disease has attacked the vitals — sick beyond cure

Gao refers the region below the heart. Another source says Gao is the fat on the tip of the heart. Huang is the region between the heart and the diaphragm. People in ancient China believed that when the ailment reached Gao and Huang, it’s incurable. If we say someone 病入膏肓(Bìng rù gāo huāng ),we mean he has no hope of recovery.

In the year 581BC during the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Jing of the Dukedom of Jin fell ill. One day the sick duke had a dream. In his dream, a long-haired devil thumping his chest and stamping his feet, said to the Duke, “you killed my descendants. God has approved my request to punish you.” The frightened Duke escaped to the inner room. But the devil forced his way in. with a start, the Duke woke up. He summoned a wizard to the palace. The wizard predicted that the Duke couldn’t live to the summer harvest.

Duke Jing’s health deteriorated. He sent someone to the Dukedom of Qin for help. Duke Huan of Qin sent a doctor called Yuan to treat Duke Jing. Before the doctor arrived, the sick Duke had another dream. This time, he dreamed that his aliment became two children. One said to the other, “a good doctor is coming. I’m afraid that he’ll harm me. Where shall I hide?” the other said, “don’t worry. We are above Huang and Below Gao. This is a very safe place. What can he do about us?”

After examining Duke Jing’s case, Doctor Yuan said, “The illness is incurable. It’s between Gao and Huang. No acupuncture needle or medicine can reach it.”

Duke Jing nodded and said, “A very good doctor indeed.” He presented him with handsome gifts and sent him back to Qin.

The idiom 病入膏肓(Bìng rù gāo huāng ) is used not only ofr a person who is mortally sick, but also for a serious situation which cannot be remedied.

Will you enter the vat please? — try what you have devised against others

Under the Empress Wu Zetian’s reign during the Tang Dynasty at the end of the 7th century, there were two brutal ministers who dealt with punishment. One was called Zhou Xing and the other Lai Junchen.

They obtained confessions through force and severe corporal punishments, and killed many loyal ministers and good generals cold-bloodedly. Zhou Xing once said indifferently, “all the defendants claim they are wronged when interrogated, but they are silent when they are executed.”

Later someone secretly reported to the empress that Zhou Xing was plotting a rebellion against her. Wu Zetian ordered Lai Junchen to handle the case. Lai Junchen knew it would be difficult to make Zhou to admit his guilt. He racked his brains and finally a bright idea came to him. He invited Zhou Xing for dinner.

During dinner, Lai asked Zhou for advice: “recently I’ve dealt with some criminal cases. I tried all kinds of torture on them but they refused to confess their crimes. Do you have any successful means?”

Not knowing that his conspiracy had been revealed, Zhou Xing replied: “that’s easy. Place some charcoal under a big jar and fire the charcoal until the jar becomes burning bot. they throw the defendant into the jar. This method guarantees a confession.”

So Lai Junchen ordered his men to heat up a big vat. After a while Lai yelled, “Come on, Zhou Xing. The vat is ready.”

Zhou, anxious to witness how effective his new torture method worked, immediately appeared. But Lai, in a stern voice, said,” why are you waiting? Don’t you think the vat is hot enough? Please don’t hesitate. Enter it!”

Zhou then realized how he had been tricked. Trembling in fear, he quickly confessed his plot for rebellion.

From that story comes the idiom 请君入瓮 (Qǐng jūn rù wèng). The message is : make someone suffer from his own scheme.